May 21, 2006
6th Sunday of Easter

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday,  May 20
   6:00 PM  For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday,  May 21
   9:30 AM  Roger Fortin by John & Joanne Fraser
Saturday,  May 27
    6:00 PM  Robert Levesque 1st Anniversary by his wife Therese
Sunday,  May 28
    9:30 AM   Leon & Alexina Therrien by Normand & Jeannine Fraser

Parish News and Notes

Parish office hours
    Our parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The Pastoral Associate is in most afternoons until 4:00 PM.  If you need to come in the PM please give us a call to make sure someone is here. Messages can always be left on the answering machine. 

Are you registered?
     Are you new to our parish?   If you are, please pick up a registration form in the vestibule of the church. Registration is very important.  Just drop it in the basket or mail it to our office.  Thanks!  We are always happy to receive new parishioners.  We welcome you and pray you will be happy here with us.

Please use church envelopes 
    Envelope users provide the bedrock of our financial support.  Please consider using them.  New packets of envelopes are mailed every three months. If you would like to receive some but you are not yet on the mailing list, please call Jeannine to give her your name and address. Thank you!

Envelope Request Form ____ I want to support our parish on a regular basis. Please add me to the envelope list. Name ______________________________ Address___________________________ Town ________________,NH Zip ________

Feast of the Ascension,  May 25. 2006.

            We will celebrate the Liturgy of the Feast of Ascension Thursday on the vigil of the day, i.e., Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm.  Please mark your calendars.  There will be a morning Mass on the 25^th in Auburn at 7:00 pm.   

Relay for Life

            The Bourque Family is participating in the Relay for Life. It’s Sandy Bourque’s five-year anniversary of being cancer-free.  Let’s celebrate by donating to a great cause, the Amrican Cancer Society Relay for Life!  Those interested may donate online at http://www.acsevents.org/nhmanchester .  Just click search and type either Sarah Bourque or Sandy Bourque.  Those with questions may call 895-0324.  Your donations are greatly appreciated!

St. Paul’s/St. Peter’s CYA Meeting

            If you are a young adult between the ages of 20-39 and are interested in getting involved, please join us at our next meeting on May 23^rd at St. Paul Church from 6:30-8:00 pm.  For more information e-mail Christy at Christye@cyanh.org.

Christian Formation News

Grades K – 3     The children entering grades K- 3 this fall will be attending Lectionary Catechesis as they have been in the past. The program runs from mid-September to mid-May.  The last class of the year will be on Sunday, May 14, 2006   Grades 4 – 10+  This year we are initiating a new program for the children in these grade levels.  The classes are held once a month and the program is geared to the entire family. Parents are asked to attend the sessions as there is an adult component to the program. Our first class was Sunday, October 16, 2005 from 11am – 1pm.  The last class of the school year is May 21, 2006.  This class  will be held at St. Peter Church at 4:00 PM.  There are a number of church related activities on that day which would make it difficult if not impossible to hold a double program.  We will have separate session in the fall.   Thank you very much for your understanding..  If you are new to the parish or if you child is just beginning his/her formation, please call the parish office for a registration blank.     Confirmation students will meet one extra time per month.   All students from both parishes will meet together in Auburn for these meetings.

Question of the Week
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Theme: (The Gift of Love)
Reading I: Acts 10: 25-26, 343-35, 44-48 <>(God Shows no Partiality)
Reading II: 1 John 4: 7-10 (God is Love)
Gospel:  John 15:9-17 (Love one Another)

Question for Adults:     How have I been challenged to love in a difficult situation?
      Loving others is rarely an easy thing.  There are times however, when the situation is very challenging.  Sometimes the situation is so difficult that we are tempted to rationalize our way out of it.  What are some of these situations.
      Very often these challenges appear in tense family situations.  Sometimes certain members of our family offend us or criticize us and we feel that this was done unjustly.  Then the opportunity presents itself for us to turn around and prove that we are indeed Christ’s followers.  This means that we need to forgive the hurtful actions of these family members.  I’m sure there are multiple examples of such situations in your lives.
      At other times the challenges are presented by neighbors that we have gone our of our way to help, then they turn around and “show their gratitude” by offending us.  And then there are situations at work that can really irk us.  Sometimes our boss is merciless and unrelenting, sometimes our co-workers are  petty or jealous.  There are so many examples of times when we can be challenged to love others.
      When we truly understand the meaning of being a follower of Christ, we also understand that loving others is not based on how loving and kind the other person has been to us.  Love of others is based on our love for God and this Love is passed on to others.  What are your personal experiences in this challenging situation?

Question for Children?   What can I do this week to show love to one of my friends?    
      This question is a bit different from the one for adults.  Notice that the children are asked to be loving to friends.  The idea is to help your children understand that even friends are not perfect.  Even friends, like family, will often hurt us.  If we are sincere about our friendship we must be willing to put a little effort into the challenge.  Help your child to think of relevant examples

Community News

Congratulations lst Communicants

     This year St. Paul Parish is happy to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist with 30 young boys and girls.  Please pray for them as they continue to come closer to Jesus who loves them.
Our<> First Communicants are:
Angela B., Nicole B., Ava B., Jared B., Molly B., Autumn B., Dale C., Maura D., Liam D., Isaac D., Victoria H.,
Amanda G., Alex G., Elena G., Lacey I., Abigail K., Gregory G., Meghan H., Jacob L., Brooke L., Thomas L.,
Evan M., Sean M., Philip M., Sara M., Thomas P., Jolie R., Seth S., Kylee S., Rebecca S.